Application forms for allotment
of peaks should be accepted by a Pakistani Embassy / Consulate or Ministry of
Tourism, Sport Complex Building, Islamabad, Pakistan during the period of 1st
January to 31st December of a year proceeding the year in which an expedition is
planned.

After 31st December allotment
of peaks will to granted on first come first service basis.

i) All tourists (except
nationals of countries on negative list) will be issued 30 days Landing Permit
at airports and other entry points, on arrival.

ii) RPOs will grant entry visa up to
3 months, on application within validity of Landing Permit.

iii) Further extension up to 3
months can also be granted by PROs on application.

iv) RPOs will also allow one or
two re-entries to the tourists, on application, charging visa fee as fixed on
reciprocal basis subject to a minimum of US Dollars 10/- only.

v) For Northern Areas, the
Deputy Commissioner Gilgit is being authorized to allow extension in visa and
one re-entry to the tourists in Northern Areas, charging visa fee as per policy.
He would, however, exercise these powers himself and would not delegate these
powers to his sub-ordinate officials.

Registration of Foreigners with
Police

i) It has been decided to
exempt all foreigners from registration with police, except the nationals of
countries on negative list.

ii) Even in the case of
countries on the negative list (except Indians and foreigners of Indian origin),
their nationals in the managerial category, who are issued work permit/visa will
also be exempted from police registration.

Government earns Rs. 35m from
royalty: By correspondence for Pakistan

A six month mountaineering and
trekking season has yielded Rs. 35.5 million on account of royalty, charges from
expedition in Northern Areas, according to tourism ministry.

The season, closed with a robust
year for K2 conquerors as eight of nine expeditions scaled the world's second
highest peak. A three member French expedition on Duli Chisch 6531m led by Yann
Delevaux was the last group to leave the Northern areas.

Three climbers lost their lives
this season. A Spanish Basque national,
Felix Inurrategi, 33, who on his way
back after reaching the summit of Gasherbrum II fell from an altitude of 6500 meter
when the anchor on an old rope came loose and took him down. Two Italian Omar Vecchio 32 and
Demenico Palandri 41 could not return from Diran Peak in Nagar region.

In all 68 mountaineering
expedition and 169 trekking groups visited Pakistan in year 2000 summer season.

Karimabad village and Baltiti
Fort received the international award for tourism. Indonesia, Austria, India and
England were the strong competitor for this award but a panel of international
judges keeping in view the ecological aspects declare the Karimabad village and
Baltit Fort the best. This award were issued in 1989 by British Airways. 80m
rupees is spent on Karimabad village and Baltit Fort which will attract 20
thousand tourists annually.

Regarding Emergency Insurance:
Before visiting Pakistan please bring along with you a letter from your
insurance company letter saying that your insurance covers emergency rescue (by
helicopter if required) and medical treatment in Pakistan in case of emergency
up to 20,000 US Dollars. The letter should also include your insurance number,
your name and passport number. Leave this letter with your agent or your embassy
in Pakistan before leaving Rawalpindi/Islamabad.

Erhard Loretan, the famous
Swiss fourteen eight thousand meters climber, left Pakistan on Saturday after an
unsuccessful attempt on Nanga Parbat on the Mazeno Ridge. He reached 6800 meters
in late August with his friend Mr. Jean Troillet, a very strong climber who has
reached the Summit of many 8000 meters peaks including K2 and Everest.

Mr. Erhard Loretan climbed many
of the 8000 meters peak in alpine style. However, he climbed Nanga Parbat in 95
with the use of fixed rope. He wishes to climb the unclimbed Mazeno Ridge in
Alpine Style. Maybe next time...

A French La Rochelle (Unnamed) Peak 7010 meter
Expedition, led by Mr. Nicolas Sieger, consisting of 4 members successful in
climbing the peak by putting following members of its top.

Mr. Nicolas Sieger on 22 August, 2000 at 2100 hours.

As per government of Pakistan rules Nicalas Sieger asked
the government of Pakistan to named it "La Rochelle" after his
city in France. After climbing a unnamed peak one can ask government of Pakistan
to named it of his/her choice.

1.) The successful American International K2 expedition
leader Mr. Gary Pfisterer is flying to New York today.

2.) Mexican Trango Tower expedition, consisting of 3
members led by Mr. Armando Detoli, are back in Pindi without any success. But
they described their expedition as a very successful one as it was their first
time in Pakistan.

3.) Shipton Spire: Two guys from USA (Mike and John)
climbed the Shipton Spire in a record 3 days time, they are said to be from
Colorado.

4.) Japan Dirgulzom 6778 meters expedition, led by Mr.
Minamii Hidehiro consisting of 5 members, were successful in scaling the peak by
putting following members of its top.

Mr. Minamii Hidehiro ,Mr. Ken Ikeya, and Mr. Y.
Yokochi.

5.) The South Korean Broad Peak expedition led by Mr.
Park Young consisting of 7 members was successful in scaling the peak on July
30th by putting following members on its top.

We are observing a very serious problem. Many of our
clients who arrive early to schedule a way back home, could not get flights. All
the flight going out of Pakistan are heavily booked, most of them are minus 30
to 50. Seats are not available for one or more months.

You are advised to bring confirmed tickets for your
return from Pakistan. And kindly reconfirm your tickets soon after your arrival
in Pakistan or at least one week before your departure from Pakistan. Don't
wait for 72 hours time given by your ticketing agent.

In connection with Pakistan Independence Day
celebration POLO matches will be held in Gilgit, Skardu, and the Chitral Valleys.

SILK ROUTE FESTIVAL 12 -20 September

Lok Versa Pakistan is organizing a Silk Route
Festival from 12 - 20 September. Festival activities includes food
festival, dance festival, art and craft festival and much more. Artisan from
Silk Roue countries will participant in this festival. It will be organize
in Chilas Gilgit Hunza Valley respectively. For further information contact virsa@culture.isb.sdnpk..org

Death on GII and Diran: Felix
Inurrategi (Spanish) died [ As reporter earlier on
EverestNews.com.] while descending from the Summit of GII while coming down with his
brother after a successful attempt. Omar Veccio and
Tom Italian national died on Diran Peak.

During the same period, a Japanese single man
expedition on Diran Peak was forced to cancelled his expedition when all on his
high altitude equipment got caught in an avalanche.

Korean K2 Expedition, led by Mr. Wi Yeong Kim, came
back successfully.

Russian Latok III expedition, led by Alexandre, are
back unsuccessful.

French GII expedition, led by Mr. Denis, came back
successfully.

German Trango Tower Expedition return back successfully
led by Jens Richter. 8 members got to the top.

GII French Expedition, led by Mr. Joel Loutze, got success.
6 members reached the top along with 3 high porters from Shimshal valley.

The Skardu Gilgit road is now open, tourists trapped in
Skardu valley due to land slides are now rushing down to Pindi for their journey
back home.

Some of the successful Gary Pfisterer K2 expedition
members are coming down: Chris Shaw, Andy Evans, Tony Tonsing and Peter are now
here in Pindi and are sorting out their flights back home. The rest of the
members are expected in Pindi in one week time.

Simon Yates UK leader of the 4 members Diran Peak
expedition is expected back in Pindi in few days. Status of their expedition is
yet now known.

The two men Latok expedition led by Tom Nonis is also
heading back to Pindi.

Skardu Gilgit road is still blocked by landslides from
about 7 places. The people who are trapped in Skardu either taking chance to fly
back to Islamabad or taking a route via the famous Deosai Pleatue (4000 meters
high) jeep road link with a valley near Nanga Parbat.

1.) All three members Mexican
Nameless Tower expedition, led by Mr. Armando Dattoli De La Vega, are attempting
Nameless Tower. In a couple of days they will make their final attempt for the
top. They are expected to leave Base Camp on 16 August and fly back on 30 August
from Pakistan.

2.) Messner gives up Nanga Parbat for 2000, after
moving high on the mountain and finding the Summit ridge very dangerous, he
wisely turned back. Messner along with Nazir Sabir met the chief Executive of
Pakistan Gen. Perviaz Musharaf and discuss various issues in promoting tourism
in Pakistan. Messner also told chief Executive that he is planning to make a
school in Diamer region in memory of his brother who died on Nanga
Parbat.

3.) A two members team of Doug Chabot and Jack Tackle
(the American Biantha Brakk Expedition) is back in Pindi. Today they fly back to
Seattle via London. They could not got to the top but they described it as a
very successful expedition in the sense of all the other expedition's tasks gone
very smoothly.

4.) A French La Rochelle (Unnamed Peak 7010 meters)
expedition led by Mr. Nicolas Sieger plus three others left Pindi 4 days ago for
the Shiskit Village in Upper Hunza.

They will attempt a unnamed peak in the Shimshal valley
near Lupghur Sar 7200 meters via the Baltbar Glacier from Shiskit village. They
are planning to stay in Pakistan until the end of August. If they climb this
peak they are looking forward to name it La Rochelle in respect of their city in
France. As per the law in Pakistan any expedition who reaches the summit of an unnamed
peak they can give the name they like.

5.) Dear Friends and Families,

Due to recent spell of rain in Northern Areas of
Pakistan most of the road are in bad shape especially Askole - Skardu. The
Skardu - Gilgit road is rough in many places and the Gilgit -PIndi road is
also in some places. Those who did not hear from their love one don't have to
worry because telephone lines are not working or very hard to get connected from
Skardu. Most people who are coming out from Skardu are coming by air.